System and Method for Optimizing Prescription Delivery Related Applications

Abstract

The present invention concerns a health service system that is configured to enable a patient to obtain prescriptions in a secure, accurate, automated, convenient, manner that is optimized for the particular patient. The health service system includes an IT (information technology) system that is coupled to a network that is in communication with a patient system, a healthcare provider system, and a number of pharmacies. When a healthcare provider generates a prescription for a patient, the prescription is transferred to the health service system. The health service system processes the prescription and thereby defines offer information for each of a plurality of pharmacies. The offer information is then delivered and/or presented to enable the patient to select an offer. Upon selecting an offer, order information is then transferred to one of the plurality of pharmacies.

1 . A method for optimizing the filling of prescriptions comprising:
 providing a health service system;   receiving prescription information at the health service system;   processing the prescription information to define offer information that is indicative of a plurality of individual offers for each of a plurality of pharmacies respectively; and   transferring the offer information to a patient system.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving pharmacy preference information from the patient system, the pharmacy preference information is indicative of the plurality of pharmacies. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the prescription information is received from a healthcare provider system. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein processing the prescription information includes:
 transferring the prescription information to a plurality of pharmacy systems; and   receiving the individual offer information from each of the plurality of pharmacies.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein processing the prescription information includes:
 removing information defining a patient identity from the prescription information to define abridged prescription information;   transferring the prescription information to a plurality of pharmacy systems; and   receiving the individual offer information from each of the plurality of pharmacies.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving offer selection information from the patient system that is indicative of the selection of one of the plurality of individual offers;   processing the offer selection information to define order information; and   
     transferring the order information to one of the plurality of pharmacies that corresponds to the selection of one of the plurality of individual offers. 
   
   
       7 . A health service information technology system comprising:
 a pharmacy subsystem configured to be managed by a pharmacy and containing pharmacy information provided by a pharmacy system; and   a patient subsystem configured to be managed by a patient and containing patient information provided by the patient.   
   
   
       8 . The health service information technology system of  claim 7 , further comprising a quotation subsystem configured to receive prescription information and to process the prescription information based upon the pharmacy information and the patient information. 
   
   
       9 . The health service information technology system of  claim 7  wherein the pharmacy subsystem includes a module enabling the pharmacy system to transfer information that configures the operation of the pharmacy subsystem. 
   
   
       10 . A method of generating a prescription order for a patient comprising:
 receiving first information defining a prescription;   processing the first information to define second information defining a plurality of quotations;   delivering the second information the patient; and   receiving third information from the patient defining selection of a single quotation from the plurality of quotations.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first information is received from a patient system. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein processing the first information includes removing information that is indicative of the identity of the patient. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein processing the first information includes:
 generating a request for quote;   generating a target list of pharmacies from which to obtain quotations;   distributing the request for quote to the target list;   receiving quotation information from pharmacy systems from within the target list of pharmacies;   processing the quotation information to form the second information.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a mode of delivering the second information to the patient is selected from a list consisting of a phone call, an electronic mail, a text message, a fax, and a system inbox. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein more than one mode of delivering is used in a pre-selected sequence. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the delivering the second information to the patient includes transferring the second information to the patient system, the patient system selected from a list consisting of an information technology system, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a cellular phone, and a personal data assistant. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein delivering the second information to the patient includes receiving a log in from a patient system and displaying the second information on the patient system. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising receiving pharmacy selection information from a patient system defining a target list of pharmacies from which to obtain the plurality of quotations. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 generating an order based upon the third information; and   transferring the order to a pharmacy system.